Carcass; Carcase - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CARCASS; CARCASE

kar'-kas:

The dead body of a beast; used sometimes in a contemptuous way of the dead body of a human being. The use of the word as applied to a living body is not found in either Old Testament or New Testament.

(1) It occurs as a translation of the Hebrew pegher, in Genesis 15:11; this Hebrew word is also translated "dead body" in Numbers 14:29; 1 Samuel 17:46; Isaiah 34:3; 66:24; Ezekiel 6:5; 43:7:9, and "corpse" in Nahum 3:3.

(2) The Hebrew nebhelah, is also translated "carcass" in Leviticus 5:2; 11:8,11; Jeremiah 16:18, but as "dead body" in Deuteronomy 28:26 ("body," Joshua 8:29; 1 Kings 13:22,29; 2 Kings 9:37); Isaiah 5:25; Jeremiah 7:33; 16:4; 19:7.

(3) In Judges 14:8 the word mappelah, from naphal, "to incline" or "fall," is also translated "carcass."

(4) In Matthew 24:28 the word "carcase" (not "carcass") is used to render the Greek ptoma, the reference probably being here to the dead body of an animal For the body of a human being the Greek is translated "corpse" (Matthew 14:12; Mark 6:29; 15:45), and "dead bodies" (Revelation 11:8,9).

W. N. Stearns

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'CARCASS; CARCASE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.